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Arctic policy of the United States

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"Polar Sea" by George Curtis (1867 — same year US became an Arctic nation)

The Arctic Policy of the United States refers to the foreign policy of the United States in regards to the Arctic region. In addition, the United States' domestic policy toward Alaska is part of its arctic policy.

Since March 30, 1867 (when the USA purchased Alaska from the Russian Empire) the United States of America has been one of the eight Arctic nations and one of the five Arctic Ocean littoral countries. The United States has been a member of the Arctic Council since its inception in 1996 and is also an observer of the Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region. US interests in the Arctic include: protecting and assisting residents of Alaska's Arctic; protecting current oil & gas (and other resource) extraction while carefully considering new prospects; securing ever-increasing ice-free shipping lanes; national defense; and various environmental concerns, including preserving polar bears and a clean Arctic.

Main goals in U.S. Arctic Policy are: National security; Protecting the Arctic environment and wildlife; Ensuring economic development is environmentally sustainable; Strengthening cooperative institutions among the eight Arctic nations; Including the Arctic’s indigenous communities in decisions; and Improving scientific monitoring and research.[1]

On January 9, 2009, President Bush signed National Security Presidential Directive (NSPD)-66 on Arctic Region Policy,[2] a collaborative effort replacing the Clinton era Arctic policy directive. NSPD-66 is currently the active Arctic policy playbook being pursued by the Obama Administration and its Departments. The policy supports ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), shipping safeguards, best practices for oil and gas, and general environmental protection.[3] The policy argues against the need for a treaty among arctic nations similar to the Antarctic Treaty restricting commercial and military activities. The policy calls for the U.S. to "assert a more active and influential national presence to protect its arctic interests and project sea power throughout the region," and to secure free passage of vessels thru the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route.[4]

At the March 29, 2010 "Arctic Five" meeting in Ottawa, US Sec. of State Hillary Clinton criticized Canada for not inviting the other three Arctic nations or indigenous groups. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said the meeting did not intend to "replace or undermine the Arctic Council".[5]

Canada is the United States' closest partner in Arctic affairs, due to geographic proximity and similar arctic policy directives. The countries work together on scientific research, including mapping the arctic sea floor. Two significant disagreements are the border dispute in the Beaufort Sea and the legal designation (international or internal waters) of the Northwest Passage.[citation needed]

United States Executive Agencies

The U.S. Arctic Policy Group is a federal inter-agency working group comprising those agencies with programs and/or involvement in research and monitoring, land and natural resources management, environmental protection, human health, transportation and policy making in the Arctic. The APG is chaired by the Department of State and meets monthly to develop and implement U.S. programs and policies in the Arctic, including those relevant to the activities of the Arctic Council.

The Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force was initiated by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and NOAA in 2009 and includes representatives from more than 20 Federal Agencies. President Obama has called on the Task Force to develop Federal recommendations for adapting to climate change impacts both domestically and internationally. Progress Report of the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force, March 16, 2010

Executive Office of the President

The EOP is headed by the White House Chief of Staff.

Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)

The CEQ's Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force released it's Final Recommendations July 19, 2010. One recommendation was to create The National Ocean Council (NOC), which is co-chaired by the CEQ and the OSTP.[6]

Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP)

Co-chairs the National Ocean Council.

National Security Council

The National Security Council's Tom Atkin is involved in Arctic Policy.[7]

Administrative Departments

Department of State

The State Department’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) includes the Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs (OPA), which is responsible for formulating and implementing U.S. policy on international issues concerning the oceans, the Arctic, and Antarctica. Julie Gourley at the OES is the Senior Arctic Official representing the United States at Arctic Council meetings.[8] OES's Deputy Assistant Secretary David Balton is the lead U.S. negotiator for the Arctic Council's search and rescue initiative.[9]

Department of Defense

The Navy’s Task Force Climate Change released the Navy Arctic Roadmap in November 2009 and the Navy Climate Change Roadmap[10] in April 2010. (Formerly The Navy had icebreakers, but now uses submarines in the Arctic.) Admiral Gary Roughead believes overfishing and melting sea ice are increasing the importance of the Navy in the Arctic. He also favors the US ratifying the United Nations Law of the Sea Treaty “so we have a seat at the table’’ and so the U.S. could “expand its sovereign rights to the increasingly accessible outer continental shelf areas of the resource-rich environment of the Arctic.’’[11] Navy Rear Admiral David Titley is heavily involved in Arctic Policy.[12]

Department of Commerce

Department of the Interior

Secretary Ken Salazar is a key player in Arctic affairs. DOI is involved in Arctic policy dealing with federally administered Alaska lands.

Fall of 2010 BLM is drafting a plan for the entire National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska: 23,500,000 acres (95,000 km2) of federal land.

Department of Homeland Security

Department of Energy

Involved with Arctic policy dealing with pipeline issues.

Department of Agriculture

Department of Transportation

Environmental Protection Agency

Department of Health and Human Services

National Science Foundation

United States Senate

Senator Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)

Senator Lisa Murkowski is a strong proponent of ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and has introduced three Arctic bills in the 111th Congress:[13] Senator Murkowski has participated in the Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region.

  • Legislation to implement some of the Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment recommendations, including a study on infrastructure needed for increased Arctic maritime transportation; and construction of two new heavy icebreakers to replace the aging Polar Sea and Polar Star.
  • Legislation amending the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act to authorize funding to get data and services to the Arctic for safe navigation, delineate the U.S. extended continental shelf and monitor coastal changes.
  • Legislation to study the feasibility, location and resource needs for an Arctic deep water port.

Senator Mark Begich (Alaska)

On August 3, 2009, Sen. Begich introduced the Inuvikput Package of Senate Bills 1560-1566:[14]

  • Arctic OCS Revenue Sharing Act: Share potential federal revenues from offshore oil & gas development with the State of Alaska and residents most affected by development
  • Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment Implementation Act: Implement the Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment
  • Arctic Science, Coordination, and Integration Act: Have the National Research Council study long-term Arctic research strategies and coordination
  • Arctic Ambassador Act: Appointing a US Ambassador to the Arctic
  • Arctic Oil Spill Research & Recovery Act: Have the Sec. of Commerce research improved methods of oil spill prevention and response in the Arctic and require the Coast Guard to access and reduce risk from Arctic spills
  • Better Health in the Arctic Act: Initiate a study into Arctic health problems, institute an Arctic Health assessment program at CDC and create an "Arctic desk" at the National Institute of Health.
  • Arctic Climate Change Adaptation Act: Help the State of Alaska, Native organizations, and Arctic communities adapt to impacts of climate change

State of Alaska

Governor of Alaska

State of Alaska Administrative Departments

  • The Department of State and State of Alaska Ad Hoc Working Group consists of representatives of the State of Alaska, Native organizations, universities, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and federal agencies in Alaska. It meets monthly and provides a consolidated Alaskan viewpoint on Arctic issues to the Department of State and other federal policymakers and keeps Alaska informed of U.S. policy issues in the Arctic and Arctic Council affairs.
  • Alaska Climate Change Executive Roundtable

The Alaska Region, with USGS and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, hosts the Alaska Climate Change Executive Roundtable, a coalition of senior level executives of both federal and state resource management agencies from throughout Alaska that has been meeting regularly since the Climate Change Forum for Alaska in February 2007 to share information and facilitate cooperation among agencies.

Department of Fish & Game

Department of Natural Resources

Department of Environmental Conservation

Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development

Department of Transportation & Public Facilities

Alaska Legislature

NWTF is tasked with facilitating the creation of a joint federal-state entity to coordinate U.S. and Alaska interests that result from the warming of the northern oceans. Members include: Rep. Reggie Joule, Rep. Bob Herron, Sen. Lyman Hoffman, Sen. Bert Stedman, ADEC Commissioner Larry Hartig, North Slope Borough Mayor Edward Itta, Unalaska Mayor Chris Hladick, Nome Mayor Denise Michaels, NANA Corp VP Chuck Green, and Alaska Marine Conservation Council Chair Dave Kubiak. Alternates are Rep. Bryce Edgmon, Sen. Donald Olson, and the Governor's Fisheries Policy Adviser Cora Campbell.

North Slope Borough

Arctic Research Policy

Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC)

IARPC consists of fifteen-plus agencies, departments, and offices across the US Federal government and is chaired by the National Science Foundation. IARPC develops the U.S. Arctic Research Plan and coordinates U.S. research programs to support U.S. Arctic policy.

United States Arctic Research Commission

Main article: United States Arctic Research Commission

The Commission’s main purpose is to establish the national policy, priorities, and goals necessary to construct a federal program plan for basic and applied scientific research with respect to the Arctic, including natural resources and materials, physical, biological and health sciences, and social and behavioral sciences and to recommend Arctic research policy, and to communicate our research and policy recommendations to the President and the Congress. USARC Report on Goals and Objectives for Arctic Research 2009–2010

Arctic Research Consortium of the United States (ARCUS)

The Arctic Research Consortium of the United States was formed in 1988 to identify and bring together the human and facilities resources of the Arctic research community in the United States. ARCUS is a non-profit corporation consisting of institutions organized and operated for educational, professional, or scientific purposes. The ARCUS headquarters and staff are located in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Universities, Non-Profits and Think Tanks

University of the Arctic

The University of the Arctic is a cooperative network of universities, colleges and other organizations committed to higher education and research in the North.

University of Alaska

Institute of Arctic Studies (Dartmouth)

Institute of Arctic & Alpine Research University of Colorado

North Pacific Research Board (NPRB)

Institute of the North

Anchorage-based think tank on Arctic and other issues. Worked on the Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment.

The Northern Forum

The Northern Forum is a non-profit, international organization composed of sub-national or regional governments from eight northern countries.

Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC)(Non-profit)

Fisheries

The range of some sub-arctic fish stocks is likely to extend into arctic areas due to climate change, and decreasing ice-cover will likely lead to more fishing activity. Scientific understanding of Arctic fish populations is limited and needs to be studied before increased arctic fishing occurs.

In May 2008, President Bush signed a joint resolution passed by Congress relating to Arctic Fisheries. The resolution stresses the need for the United States to work with other nations to conserve and manage future Arctic fisheries.[15]

In the area of the Arctic north of the Atlantic, extensive commercial fisheries and international managerial mechanisms already exist. North of the Bering Strait, there are currently no significant commercial fisheries and no international management mechanisms.

The Arctic Fishery Management Plan went into effect December 3, 2009, closing the Arctic Management Area to commercial fishing.[16]

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC)

The NPFMC is one of eight regional councils established by the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act in 1976 to manage the nation's fisheries. With jurisdiction over the 900,000-square-mile (2,300,000 km2) Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska, the Council has primary responsibility for groundfish management in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, including cod, pollock, flatfish, mackerel, sablefish, and rockfish species. Other large Alaska fisheries such as salmon, crab and herring are managed primarily by the State of Alaska.

See also

References

  1. ^ [1] US Arctic Policy
  2. ^ [2] US Arctic Region Policy Presidential Directive
  3. ^ [3] President Obama should reject last-minute arctic policy
  4. ^ [4] President Obama should reject last-minute arctic policy
  5. ^ [5] Clinton Criticizes Canada Over Arctic Talks
  6. ^ [6] About the National Ocean Council
  7. ^ [7] Who's in Charge of Arctic Policy?
  8. ^ [8] US Senior Arctic Official
  9. ^ [9] Who's in Charge of Arctic Policy?
  10. ^ [10] Navy Climate Change Roadmap
  11. ^ [11] The Navy and the Arctic
  12. ^ [12] Who's in Charge of Arctic Policy?
  13. ^ [13] Sen. Murkowski - Arctic Issues
  14. ^ [14] Sen. Begich Sponsored Bills
  15. ^ [15] US Dept. of State: Ocean & Polar Affairs
  16. ^ [16] NOAA Fisheries News Alert

External links

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